The Brilliance of Innovation: How Lab Grown Diamonds are Made

Diamonds, from engagement rings to wedding bands, have long been prized for their brilliance and durability. While traditional diamonds take billions of years to form through immense heat and pressure deep within the Earth, modern technology now allows manufacturers to recreate these gemological wonders in a controlled laboratory setting.

Discover the science behind lab grown diamonds and why these ethical gems are quickly becoming the premier choice for fine diamond jewelry.

Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) and High-Pressure High-Temperature (HPHT) are the two methods for creating lab grown diamonds. Both processes replicate the conditions that produce natural diamonds but in an ethical way.

CVD is the most commonly used process for man-made diamonds in the modern diamond industry. It allows precise control over diamond growth conditions, enabling manufacturers to produce high-quality gems to exact specifications.

CVD lab grown diamonds are created with these steps: 

• Preparation of the substrate. A small diamond seed is cleaned and placed inside a CVD reactor. This seed is the foundation upon which the new diamond will grow.

• Gas selection and injection. A mixture of gasses, typically including a carbon-rich source like methane, is introduced into the chamber. The mixture of gasses can be changed depending on the desired characteristics of the final diamond.

• Activation of gasses. The gas mixture is activated by applying energy to it, usually in the form of microwave power or a hot filament. This energy breaks the molecular bonds in the gasses, creating a plasma of carbon and other atoms.

• Diamond growth. The activated carbon atoms settle on the diamond seed and gradually build up in layers, forming a diamond. This process is carefully controlled to ensure the diamond grows according to specific requirements, including color, clarity and carat weight.

• Monitoring and controlling the environment. The temperature, pressure and chemical composition inside the chamber are continuously monitored and adjusted to maintain optimal conditions for diamond growth.

• Termination and cooling. Once the diamond has reached its desired size, the supply of gasses is stopped and the chamber is allowed to cool down. This careful cooling process is crucial to prevent any stress or defects in the diamond.\

• Post-processing. The rough diamond is removed from the chamber and may undergo further cutting, polishing and inspection to prepare it for use in jewelry or industrial applications.

While CVD creates diamonds from energized gasses, the High Pressure High Temperature (HPHT) method more closely mimics the natural diamond formation process. By replicating the intense heat and pressure found in the mantle, HPHT allows the growth of high-quality diamond crystals from a carbon source.

• Placement of diamond seed and carbon source. A small diamond seed is placed in the center of a carbon source, such as graphite, within the growth chamber of an HPHT machine. This setup prepares for the initiation of diamond growth.

• Application of high pressure and high temperature. The chamber is subjected to extremely high pressure and temperature, replicating the intense conditions in the Earth’s mantle. This environment is essential for transforming the carbon source into diamond.

• Growth of diamond crystal. Under these conditions, the carbon atoms attach to the diamond seed, gradually forming a larger diamond crystal. 

• Monitoring growth conditions. Throughout the process, the temperature and pressure within the chamber are carefully monitored and controlled to ensure the diamond grows correctly and to the desired specifications.

• Cooling and extraction. After the diamond has grown to the desired size, the chamber slowly returns to normal temperature and pressure conditions. This careful cooling is crucial to prevent any damage or imperfections in the diamond.

• Post-processing. The newly formed diamond is then extracted from the machine and may undergo additional processing, such as cutting and polishing, to prepare it for commercial use.

Once the diamond is made, it has to be prepared for use in high-quality jewelry like a lab grown diamond ring or lab grown diamond bracelet. The process involves the following steps and tools for the desired outcome:

As awareness of ethical practices grows, lab grown diamonds are rapidly gaining popularity in the fine jewelry industry. They are 100% conflict free, making them an ethical choice compared to their mined natural counterparts.

Whether you’re dreaming of buying a dazzling lab grown diamond tennis bracelet, wedding band or diamond studs, these lab grown diamonds offer a brilliant and ethical alternative for expressing your personal style while supporting responsible gem sourcing.